Ignition-tube heater.



UNI 'L enten.

JAMES E. WISE, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SPANG AND COMPANY,OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

IGNITION-TUBE HEATER.

resserre.

To all 107mm t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES E. lVisn, aresident of Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition-TubeHeaters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide heating means for theignition-tube of an explosive engine which is completely closed to theimmediate surroundings of the engine, so that if gas leaks from thelatter or from its supply connections it cannot be exploded by the tubeheater. It is not uncommon for contiagrations to be started in this way,and such explosions have done considerable damp age even where notfollowed by destructive fires. Ordinarily, ignition-tube heaters orfurnaces are open quite close to the engine for the admission of air tosupport combustion, there being a very appreciable inward draft whichtends to draw into the heater any gas that may escape from the engine orits connections. The conditions recited are frequently present in oiland gas well equipment, there being often much free gas in the engineinclosure which frequently causes explosions as above indicated. Withthe furnace herein proposed, wherein the tube heating means iscompletely closed to the im mediate surroundings of the engine, air forSustaining combustion being drawn from outside the engine room and theheater flue or chimney also extending to the outside, it is quiteimpossible for any free gas to enter and cause trouble.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a heaterconstructed in accordance with the invention, the same being mounted onan engine cylinder. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on the broken line 2 2 ofFig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates an engine cylinder, and 3 anignition-tube of usual construction.

4 is the flue-like furnace which is secured to the engine cylinder andfully incloses tube 3, the furnace being provided with asbestos or othersuitable lining 4. Instead of the furnaceforming tube 4 being fully opena. short distance above the ignition-tube, and thus open to the engineroom, as is usually the case, it is extended by chimney 5 through theroof or other wall 6 of the engine in- Speceation of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 19, 1910.

Patented J une 4, 1912.

serial No. 598,019.

closure, with its outer end closed by cap 7, the latter and the chimneyformed with registering apertures S. At the base or furnace tube 4 isthe usual L-branch 9 to which connects the T-iitting 10. The outer end othis fitting is closed by head 11 carrying a Bumsen burn-er 12, thelatter having the gas discharging' tip 13, and also formed with the airadmitting or mixer openings 14. Gras may be supplied through sideconnection 15 to bore 1G of the burner head, the outer end of the borelbeing closed by plug 17 which may be removed for cleaning tip 13.Instead of sustaining the combustion by air drawn into the heater fromthe immediate vicinity of the engine, it is admitted thereto throughinletpipe 18 connected to fitting 10, and is shown extended through roofor other wall 6, the same as chimney 5, and provided with a similar cap19 and apertures 20. Cap 19 is rotatable on pipe 18, and it and cap 7may be turned as desired to vary the rear of passages 8 and 20, andthereby adjust the inflowing and out-flowing drafts as required.

The flame from burner 12 is directed toward and impinges ignition-tube3, the draft being upward through furnace tube 4 and chimney 5, whileair in requisite quantity feeds downward through inlet pipe 18. Theheater may be lighted through the pivoted mica-covered door 21, thelatter also serving as a sight opening for observing the condition ofthe ignition-tube.

lVith the construction here shown the tube heater communicates only withthe outer air so that no gas that may accumulate around or in thevicinity of the engine can be drawn into the heater and cause explosion.

I claim 1. The combination of engine house or inclosure, an explosiveengine, an ignition-tube therefor, a heater casing inclosing the tube, aburner within the casing, an air inlet extending to the exterior of theengine inclosure, and a similarly extended outlet for the heaterproducts.

2. The combination with an engine inclosure, an explosive engine withinthe inclosure, and an ignition-tube for the engine, of a heater casinginclosing the ignitiontube, a burner within the casing, said casingbeing closed to the admission of air from within the engine inclosure,and an air inlet and a products outlet for the casing extending and opento the exterior ot th'e engine inclosure.

8. The combination of an explosive engine, an inclosure in which theengine is located, an ignition-tube for the engine, a tubular heaterhaving a flue extension through a Wall of the engine inclosure and opento the exterior thereof, the base of the tubular heater having a lateralbranch, a burner mounted therein, and an, air inlet pipe connected tothe lateral branch and extending through a Wall of the furnace inciosureand open to the exterior thereof.

4C. The combination of an explosive engine, an inclosure in Which t-heengine is located, an ignition-tube for the engine, a heater for theignition-tube which is entirely closed to the engine inclosure, and tWofines for the heater extending through a Wall of the inclosure and openonly at the exterior of the latter, one flue supplying air to the heaterand the other flue providing the draft and discharging the products ofcombustion.

5. The combination of an explosive engine, a roofed inclosure in Whichthe engine is located, an ignition-tube for the en gine, a heater forthe ignition-tube which is entirelyT closed to theengine inclosure, andiiues extending from the heater through the roof of the inclosurc andopenat the exterior of the latter, one flue admitting air to the heaterand the other flue providing the draft and discharging the products ofcombustipn.

In testimony whereof I atix my signature 35 in presence of tivoWitnesses.

JAMES E. WISE. Vitnesses L. P. HAZLETT, S. WV. MoCoLLoUGH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

